The Marionette of Madness

4

Brian woke up with a start. How long had it been? Last thing he remembered was... dying? No, that couldn't be right. His memory had been shakey for a while now, he must have just been confused.

Brian took stock of where he was. He was in the woods, and based on the color of the leaves, it was early autumn.
"Where am I?"

Brian searched his pockets, hoping in vain for his phone, but no, nothing.
"Hello?!" Anyone?"

No answer. There was, however, the sound of cars came from somewhere in the distance. Brian, seeing no alternative, headed in that direction, hoping for salvation.

He ran for what felt like hours, but the sound stayed in the far distance. Brian was about to give up, when he, quite literally, ran into another person.

He was a young man, maybe 18, with brown hair. He looked pretty beaten up, and Brian suddenly became aware of how sore he was, and wondered if he looked as bad as this guy.

The young man seemed confused to see Brian.
"What-what are you doing here?"
He spoke with a stutter, and seemed to have a persistent tic in his neck.

"I don't know man. I just woke up here. Do you have any clue where I am?"

The young man shook his head, but he seemed less confused now.
"He m-must have got-gotten you too."

Brian furrowed his brow.
"What do you mean "He"?"

The young man brushed a few leaves out of his hair, eyeing Brian with suspicion.
"I've seen you before. Put-put your hood on."

Brian was incredibly confused now, but did just that. The young man looked at him for a moment.
"I thought s-so. Y-you were one of the ones with Him th-that night."

Brian was even more confused now.
"I'm sorry, what?"

The young man seemed to have lost interest in him, as he was poking around in a bush. He came up with a handful of berries.
"You think these are safe to eat?"